Profile

Ben Gisborne

Programme

Employment

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My RAU experience

Studying at the RAU allowed me to start my career in Real Estate with a good foundation of knowledge to build upon in the work place but just as importantly a group of lifelong friends, many of whom are working in the Real Estate sector. The course provided a good balance of technical teaching and real life examples from external speakers, ensuring that as a student you were always exposed to the practical application of the skills taught at the RAU. This proved extremely useful when applying for my initial graduate scheme and I believe is one of the key differentiating factors that studying at the RAU offers.

What I gained from the RAU

Upon graduating from the RAU I started the residential graduate scheme with Knight Frank where I rotated around a variety of departments including valuation, development, lease enfranchisement and sales over a two year period. I completed my APC with Knight Frank in 2016 where I qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. Since qualifying I have primarily focused on valuation work and I now work for CBRE in their Residential Advisory team where I am involved with the valuation of Build to Rent developments around the UK, residential developments and the valuation of Prime Central London properties.

I have always been struck by the number of RAU Alumni I have met in my career to date and it is great to be part of a global network which studying at the RAU offers. Even at the early stages of my career I have friends from Cirencester in a wide variety of firms both in the UK and internationally and it is great to be part of that network. The range of skills and courses taught at the RAU can come in use whatever your chosen specialism and it is good to know that despite working in the Central London market, if I need to know current arable land prices in Kent or the market for native breed cattle in Cornwall that I have a friend and previous RAU student that can assist!